Hours Before Syrian Ceasefire Set to Begin, At Least 90 Killed in Airstrikes

Just a day after Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States and Russian governments had come to an agreement on a limited cease-fire in war-torn Syria, a volley of airstrikes rained down on the nation, killing 90.

The cease-fire was set to begin on Monday at sundown, but it appears that Russia and other actors wanted to get in a bit more death and misery in before the sun went down.

Of the 90 killed, 28 were children, a common occurrence in these strikes which affect clusters of Syrian civilians who were unable to flee the nation.

One of the cities affected was Aleppo, the war-torn city made famous in recent weeks due to the tragic video of a shell-shocked toddler gone viral. Rebel-held areas in Idlib in the northwest of Syria were the site of the worst strikes over the weekend, with an attack targeted at a crowded market killing at least 61 and injuring over 100 more.

Unfortunately, this is not the first cease-fire of its kind negotiated between the American and Russian government. One such agreement was reached in February, but fell apart within weeks.

The cease-fire is set to go forward with the full support of the Syrian regime. If this cease-fire holds up, it will save hundreds of innocent lives, giving Syrians a chance to bury their dead and make arrangements to flee the country if able.

Sydney Robinson is a political writer for the Ring of Fire Network. She has also appeared in political news videos for Ring of Fire. Sydney has a degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida, and has an active interest in politics, social justice, and environmental issues. She would love to hear from you on Twitter
@SydneyMkay or via email at srobinson@ringoffireradio.com